wind turbine installation vessel

File:TIV Resolution raised (rotated).jpg, the first WTIV]]

File:Aufbau einer Windenergieanlage im Offshore Windpark Meerwind.JPG]]

A wind turbine installation vessel (WTIV) is a vessel specifically designed for the installation of offshore wind turbines. There were 16 such vessels in 2020.

Most are self-elevating jackup rigs. To enable quick relocation in the wind farm it is self-propelled. It also has a slender ship shaped hull[http://www.dnv.com/services/software/publications/2011/no_1/geniewindturbineinstallationvessels.asp DNV installation vessel design software] to achieve a quick turnaround time with the vessel carrying several foundations or wind turbines each time. Azimuth thrusters are used to position the vessel during jack-up operations.[http://www.ship-technology.com/projects/pacific-orca-wind-farm-installation-vessel Pacific Orca Wind Farm Installation Vessel] Some vessels use the thrusters in dynamic positioning (without jacking up) to keep the vibrating pile driver steady when installing foundations.{{cite web |title=Kaskasi breaks ground with new ways to install monopiles |url=https://www.rivieramm.com/news-content-hub/kaskasi-breaks-ground-with-new-ways-to-install-monopiles-70962 |website=Riviera |language=En |date=6 May 2022 |quote=On Kaskasi, Seaway 7 also utilised .. vibro pile driving technology to reduce underwater noise emissions}} Some may carry five modern wind turbines and lift 700 tonnes {{convert|125|metres}} above deck.{{cite web |title=Pacific Osprey's new upgraded crane boom is on its way to Denmark for installation |url=https://www.windtech-international.com/product-news/pacific-osprey-s-new-upgraded-crane-boom-is-on-its-way-to-denmark-for-installation |website=www.windtech-international.com |date=2020}}{{cite web |last1=Snyder |first1=John |title=New class of installation vessels to handle 'super-sized' wind turbines |url=https://www.rivieramm.com/news-content-hub/new-class-of-installation-vessels-to-handle-lsquosuper-sizedrsquo-wind-turbines-58478 |website=Riviera Maritime Media |language=En |date=11 March 2020}}

A vessel can cost{{cite web |title=Eneti orders second 20 MW wind turbine installation vessel |url=https://www.offshore-energy.biz/eneti-orders-second-20-mw-wind-turbine-installation-vessel/ |website=Offshore Energy |date=2 December 2021}} $335 million, or $220,000 per day. A 3-year leasing may cost €90 million.{{cite web |title=Huadian Heavy Charters Mega Jack-Up Capable of Installing 20 MW Offshore Wind Turbines |url=https://www.offshorewind.biz/2022/01/04/huadian-heavy-charters-mega-jack-up-capable-of-installing-20-mw-offshore-wind-turbines/ |website=Offshore Wind |date=4 January 2022}}

The fleet of 16 vessels are scheduled to expand to 23 vessels by 2023, of which seven can handle the largest turbines.{{cite web |last1=Dixon |first1=Gary |title=Offshore wind players losing out on deals due to lack of ships |url=https://www.tradewindsnews.com/offshore/offshore-wind-players-losing-out-on-deals-due-to-lack-of-ships/2-1-862696 |website=TradeWinds {{!}} Latest shipping and maritime news |language=en |url-access=subscription |date=25 August 2020}}{{cite web |title=Havmølleproducent: Vi mangler installationsskibe nu |url=https://www.soefart.dk/article/view/736115/havmolleproducent_vi_mangler_installationsskibe_nu |website=Søfart |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200826150931/https://www.soefart.dk/article/view/736115/havmolleproducent_vi_mangler_installationsskibe_nu |archive-date=26 August 2020 |language=da |date=26 August 2020 |url-status=live}} The fast growth of turbine size challenges even the largest vessels.{{cite web |last1=Sanderson |first1=Cosmo |title='World's biggest offshore wind vessel already struggling to keep pace with turbines' |url=https://www.rechargenews.com/wind/worlds-biggest-offshore-wind-vessel-already-struggling-to-keep-pace-with-turbines/2-1-1559691 |website=Recharge {{!}} Latest renewable energy news |language=en |date=23 November 2023}} In China, lack of suitable vessels are slowing the construction of offshore wind farms.{{cite web |title=Too few and too small: the vessel crunch hobbling China's offshore wind dash |url=https://www.rechargenews.com/wind/too-few-and-too-small-the-vessel-crunch-hobbling-chinas-offshore-wind-dash/2-1-875262 |website=Recharge {{!}} Latest renewable energy news |language=en |date=15 September 2020|url-access=subscription}}

A supplement to crane-equipped WTIVs can be crane-less feeder vessels with motion compensation.{{cite web |title=Dutch firms unveil US offshore wind feeder vessel design |url=https://www.offshore-mag.com/rigs-vessels/article/14201858/cjob-naval-architects-ampelmann-unveil-us-offshore-wind-feeder-vessel-design |website=www.offshore-mag.com |date=21 April 2021}}{{cite web |title=DEME and Barge Master Develop Feeder Solution for US Offshore Wind Projects |url=https://www.offshorewind.biz/2022/05/05/deme-and-barge-master-develop-feeder-solution-for-us-offshore-wind-projects/ |website=Offshore Wind |date=5 May 2022}} Some WTIVs have a crane but no legs.{{cite web |last1=Snieckus |first1=Darius |title=New 'no-legs' crane vessel launched for next-generation jackets {{!}} Recharge |url=https://www.rechargenews.com/wind/new-no-legs-crane-vessel-launched-for-next-generation-jackets/2-1-714404 |website=Recharge {{!}} Latest renewable energy news |language=en |date=29 November 2019}}{{cite web |last1=Radowitz |first1=Bernd |title=Turbine in at Arcadis Ost 1 wind farm using 'world's first floating installation' method {{!}} Recharge |url=https://www.rechargenews.com/wind/turbine-in-at-arcadis-ost-1-wind-farm-using-worlds-first-floating-installation-method/2-1-1361727 |website=Recharge {{!}} Latest renewable energy news |language=en |date=25 November 2022}}

Projects include a {{cvt|155|m}} crane height, and lift capacity of 1,600{{cite web |title=Swire Blue Ocean to upgrade two turbine installation vessels and build new one |url=https://www.rivieramm.com/news-content-hub/swire-blue-ocean-to-upgrade-two-turbine-installation-vessels-and-build-new-one-60939 |website=Riviera |access-date=17 September 2020 |language=En}}–3,000 tonnes.{{cite web |last1=Snieckus |first1=Darius |title=New chapter {{!}} Giant Voltaire jack-up heads for North Sea to build world's biggest wind plant {{!}} Recharge |url=https://www.rechargenews.com/wind/new-chapter-giant-voltaire-jack-up-heads-for-north-sea-to-build-worlds-biggest-wind-plant/2-1-1377640 |website=Recharge {{!}} Latest renewable energy news |language=en |date=20 December 2022}}

Some WTIV use biodegradable hydraulic fluids to minimize ecosystem impact during leaks.{{cite web |last1=Foxwell |first1=David |title=Technical issue halts work on Saint-Brieuc offshore windfarm |url=https://www.rivieramm.com/news-content-hub/technical-issue-halts-work-on-saint-brieuc-offshore-windfarm-66038 |website=Riviera |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210620113205/https://www.rivieramm.com/news-content-hub/technical-issue-halts-work-on-saint-brieuc-offshore-windfarm-66038 |archive-date=20 June 2021 |language=En |date=16 June 2021 |url-status=live}} In Korea, some vessels are approved for liquefied natural gas.{{cite web |title=Samsung Heavy Industries secures AIPs for environmentally friendly turbine installation vessel |url=https://www.rivieramm.com/news-content-hub/samsung-heavy-secures-aips-for-environmentally-friendly-turbine-installation-vessel-64882 |website=Riviera |language=En |date=9 April 2021}}

Construction of the four-legged US Jones Act-compliant Charybdis started at Keppel in Texas in late 2020, at a cost of 715 million dollars,{{cite web |title=Keel laid for first Jones Act-compliant turbine installation vessel |url=https://www.offshore-mag.com/rigs-vessels/article/14189314/keel-laid-for-first-jones-actcompliant-offshore-wind-turbine-installation-vessel |website=www.offshore-mag.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201217214432/https://www.offshore-mag.com/rigs-vessels/article/14189314/keel-laid-for-first-jones-actcompliant-offshore-wind-turbine-installation-vessel |archive-date=17 December 2020 |date=17 December 2020 |quote=Keppel AmFELS shipyard in Brownsville, Texas. This will be the first Jones Act-compliant offshore wind turbine installation vessel. Its hull and infrastructure will use more than 14,000 tons of domestic steel. crane .. boom length of 426 ft (130 m) and lifting capacity of 2,200 tons. |url-status=live}}{{cite web |title=Turbine-installing ship is Dominion's big bet on offshore wind |url=https://energynews.us/2022/03/08/giant-turbine-installing-ship-is-dominion-energys-500m-bet-on-u-s-offshore-wind/ |website=Energy News Network |date=8 March 2022}}{{cite web |last1=Ferry |first1=Tim |title=Costs soar to $715m for US’ only wind installation vessel on new turbine specs and financing |url=https://www.rechargenews.com/wind/costs-soar-to-715m-for-us-only-wind-installation-vessel-on-new-turbine-specs-and-financing/2-1-1686192 |website=rechargenews.com |language=en |date=1 August 2024}} scheduled for the 700 MW Revolution Wind in 2023 and the 924 MW Sunrise Wind in 2024.{{cite web |last1=Lewis |first1=Michelle |title=The US gets a game-changing offshore wind farm installation vessel |url=https://electrek.co/2021/06/01/the-us-gets-a-game-changing-offshore-wind-farm-installation-vessel/ |website=Electrek |date=2021-06-01}} Such vessels require 500–800 MW of installation per year for five years to be economical.{{cite web |last1=Tremblay |first1=Matt |title=The complicated U.S. regulations for offshore wind vessels |url=https://www.windpowerengineering.com/the-complicated-u-s-regulations-for-offshore-wind-vessels/ |website=Windpower Engineering & Development |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210911061915/https://www.windpowerengineering.com/the-complicated-u-s-regulations-for-offshore-wind-vessels/ |archive-date=11 September 2021 |date=2 August 2021 |url-status=live}} The Jones Act makes it much more difficult to install offshore wind, introducing complications of transferring parts between ships and raising costs.{{Cite web |title=The Jones Act: How a 100-year-old law complicates offshore wind projects |url=https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nc/charlotte/news/2023/04/03/the-jones-act--how-a-100-year-old-law-complicates-offshore-wind-projects |access-date=2023-11-02 |website=spectrumlocalnews.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2024-02-19 |title=How US protectionism is holding back the country's offshore wind plans |url=https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/wind/how-us-protectionism-is-holding-back-the-countrys-offshore-wind-plans |access-date=2024-02-19 |website=Canary Media |language=en}}